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Using PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics to Verify Hardware Problems

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This document applies to HP and Compaq desktop PCs with Windows XP and PC-Doctor diagnostic software.
PC-Doctor is a software tool that assists in diagnosing the PC for possible hardware problems. This tool does not resolve hardware problems directly, but it does help you discover what is wrong with the PC by troubleshooting and isolating hardware issues.
This document provides information on how to download and create a floppy diskette or optical disc (CD) that you use to run PC-Doctor offline, that is, without starting Windows. For your reference, this document also includes how to use the offline diagnostics diskette or disc, and a list of the failure codes.
For information on how to use PC-Doctor from your Windows desktop, refer to HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Using PC-Doctor to Verify Hardware Problems .
The PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics is a utility for use with your HP or Compaq desktop PC. Due to the availability of DOS drivers and limitations of the DOS environment, the following PC-Doctor components are not supported:
  • Modem
  • Network Adapter
  • WiFi (wireless) Adapter
  • CD-RW and DVD+RW Writing Function
  • 3D Video Test
  • Multimedia Card Reader
  • Audio
  • Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
If you receive an error code after running any of the tests, you will need to contact HP support for further assistance. Write the error code number down so that you can provide it to a support agent.
NOTE: PC-Doctor is intended to be used with the original HP or Compaq PC hardware configuration. Although it might work fine with hardware you've added to the PC since purchasing it, PC-Doctor was designed to work specifically with the hardware HP originally installed in the PC.
Before you begin
Before you can use PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics on your PC, you need to:
  1. Locate and download the current version of the PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics software file, called SP26380.exe, from the HP Web site.
  2. Make a bootable floppy diskette or optical disc (CD) containing the file.
  3. Insert the diskette or disc into your PC and restart the PC.
The next section of this document lists the steps to locate, download, and make the diskette or disc containing the PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics.
Print this document to use for reference as you perform the necessary steps.
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Making a PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics diskette or disc
If your PC has PC-Doctor version 5 or later, you can easily create an offline disc by inserting a CD-R or CD-RW and clicking Record bootable diagnostic CD in the lower left of the PC-Doctor main window.
Figure 1: Record Bootable Diagnostic CD selection
Alternatively, you can download and install the creator utility from HP as follows:
NOTE: You need a blank floppy diskette or a blank CD-R disc.
  1. Go to the HP Web site at www.hp.com .
  2. Type SP26380 into the search field and press Enter .
  3. Click the search result that matches the latest version of SP26380. (The results will likely list only one version.)
  4. Read the document page that displays, print it for reference, and click the download button at the bottom to download the diagnostic file SP26380.exe.
  5. Close all applications and remove any discs from the PC optical drives (CD or DVD) or from the floppy drive.
  6. Double-click the icon for the downloaded file (SP26380.exe), and then click Next in the window that opens.
  7. Accept the terms of the HP license agreement, and then click Next . If a window opens with the message Do you want to install this diagnostic? , click Yes .
  8. In the "PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics" window, select Floppy Diskette or CD Disc , and then click OK .
  9. If you selected Floppy Diskette, continue with step 10 . If you selected CD Disc, continue with step 14 .
  10. Insert a blank floppy diskette into the PC drive and then click Yes in the "PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics" window.
  11. Wait a few minutes for the program to create the diskette.
  12. When the program finishes, do one of the following:
    • If you want to run the diagnostics on the PC you are using, leave the floppy in the drive and click OK at the prompt to restart the PC.
    • If you want to run the diagnostics on a different PC, click Cancel at the prompt to restart the PC, wait for the window to close, and then eject the floppy diskette. At the PC you want to use, close all applications and remove any discs from the PC optical drives (CD or DVD), then insert the floppy diskette into the PC drive. Restart the PC, or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and choose Shutdown , and then click Restart .
      NOTE: If your PC does not respond (restart or turn off), press and hold the On button until the PC turns off, wait a few seconds, and then press the On button again to turn on the PC.
  13. Follow the onscreen instructions to use PC-Doctor offline . This completes making the bootable floppy diskette.
  14. When you selected CD Disc, the "PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics" window displays the message: The file to create the boot CD disc is located in C:\Softpaq\SP26380 directory. Use RecordNow, or similar, to make the CD disc. Write down the location of the directory, and then click OK . The window closes.
  15. To continue, you must create the bootable CD by using RecordNow or similar program to write the CD. Refer to the SP26380 document you printed in step 4 or to one of the sections listed below for your type recording program.
Veritas RecordNow Version 5.0 or earlier
  1. Click Start on the task bar, and choose All Programs , CD (DVD) Recorder , RecordNow , and then click RecordNow again.
  2. In the RecordNow application window, click Make a Data Disc .
  3. Insert the blank CD-R disc into the drive, and then click Next .
  4. Click Add Files and Folders .
  5. Navigate to the folder containing the file (C:\SoftPaq), select the SP26380 file, and click ADD .
  6. Click Yes and wait for RecordNow to create the CD.
  7. When the program finishes, close it, and then do one of the following:
    • If you want to run the diagnostics on the PC you are using, leave the CD in the drive and restart the PC.
    • If you want to run the diagnostics on a different PC, eject the CD disc and remove it. At the PC you want to use, close all applications and remove any discs from the PC optical drives (CD or DVD), then insert the CD disc into the PC drive. Restart the PC, or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and choose Shutdown , and then Restart .
      NOTE: If your PC does not respond (restart or turn off), press and hold the On button until the PC turns off, wait a few seconds, and then press the On button again to turn on the PC.
  8. Follow the onscreen instructions to use PC-Doctor offline . This completes making the bootable CD.
Sonic RecordNow! Version 6.0
NOTE: RecordNow! 6.0 does not support the ISO image burning feature required for this disc. To update RecordNow! 6.0 to RecordNow! 6.7, do the following:
  1. Click Start on the taskbar, and choose All Programs , CD (DVD) Recorder , RecordNow! , and then click RecordNow! again.
  2. Click on the Help menu icon (a question mark), and then click Check for Updates .
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update.
    NOTE: You may need to run the update twice, once to update the RecordNow! PX recording engine and again to update RecordNow! to version 6.7.
  4. When you are finished updating to RecordNow! 6.7, continue with the steps for Sonic RecordNow! Version 6.5 or greater to complete creating your bootable disc.
Sonic RecordNow! Version 6.5 or greater
  1. Click Start on the taskbar, and choose All Programs , CD (DVD) Recorder , RecordNow! , and then click RecordNow! again.
  2. In the RecordNow! application window, click the tab to view Backup Projects .
  3. Click Burn Image .
  4. Click Browse .
  5. Navigate to the folder containing the file (C:\SoftPaq), select the SP26380 file, and click ADD .
  6. Insert the blank CD-R disc into the drive.
  7. Click Burn and wait for RecordNow! to create the CD.
  8. When the program finishes, close it, and then do one of the following:
    • If you want to run the diagnostics on the PC you are using, leave the CD in the drive and restart the PC.
    • If you want to run the diagnostics on a different PC, eject the CD disc and remove it. At the PC you want to use, close all applications and remove any discs from the PC optical drives (CD or DVD), then insert the CD disc into the PC drive. Restart the PC, or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and choose Shutdown , and then Restart .
      NOTE: If your PC does not respond (restart or turn off), press and hold the On button until the PC turns off, wait a few seconds, and then press the On button again to turn on the PC.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions to use PC-Doctor offline . This completes making the bootable CD.
Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6
  1. Click Start on the taskbar, and choose All Programs , Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6 , and then click Creator Classic .
  2. In the File Menu, click Record Disc from Image .
  3. Navigate to the folder containing the file (C:\SoftPaq), select the SP26380 file, and click OPEN .
  4. Insert the blank CD-R disc into the drive.
  5. Click OK in the Record Setup window and wait for Roxio to create the CD.
  6. When the program finishes, close it, and then do one of the following:
    • If you want to run the diagnostics on the PC you are using, leave the CD in the drive and restart the PC.
    • If you want to run the diagnostics on a different PC, eject the CD disc and remove it. At the PC you want to use, close all applications and remove any discs from the PC optical drives (CD or DVD), then insert the CD disc into the PC drive. Restart the PC, or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and choose Shutdown , and then Restart .
      NOTE: If your PC does not respond (restart or turn off), press and hold the On button until the PC turns off, wait a few seconds, and then press the On button again to turn on the PC.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions to use PC-Doctor offline . This completes making the bootable CD.
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Using PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics
When you restart or turn on the PC with the bootable offline diskette or disc inserted in the PC drive, PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics opens showing the basic test menu.
When viewing a menu, press a number or letter on the keyboard from the list of menu options and press Enter to run that option.
NOTE: If you are using a CD for PC-Doctor Offline DOS Diagnostics, press F1 on the keyboard to open Help, where you can view the PC-Doctor manual with specific information about the tests and using the offline diagnostics.
The options on the basic menu are:
  • B - Run the basic test suite: runs a suite of tests for the motherboard, memory, video, hard drive and optical drives. (See the Note regarding the video test in the Advanced Test Menu.) This test takes about one hour to complete.
  • A - Access Advanced Test Menu: opens the Advanced menu of customized tests and tools.
  • V - View System Information: lists the components detected by the system.
  • R - Show Test log: lists the tests recorded in the log.
The options on the Advanced Test Menu are:
  • 1- Functional Test: checks general operation of the PC components: motherboard, memory, video, hard drive and optical drives.
  • 2- CD-ROM, DVD, and CDRW Test: checks function and operation of the optical drives on the PC.
  • 3- I/O Test: tests input and output ports for operation.
  • 4- CPU and Memory Test: tests the Central Processing Unit and the Memory operation.
  • 5- Motherboard and Video Test: tests motherboard components, including the real-time-clock, and video components.
    NOTE: During the video test, the monitor shows various patterns and and appears to flash images, including no image (dark screen). Wait at least two minutes after the dark screen appears for the video test to finish testing.
  • 6- Normal Hard Drive Test: tests the hard disk drive for normal function.
  • 7- Long Hard Drive Test: tests the hard disk drive using full access checks.
  • M- System Stability Test: checks system response.
  • G - Return to Basic Test menu: displays the Basic test menu.
  • L - Show Test log: lists the tests recorded in the log.
At completion of a test, the results are shown as a Passed Test message, Testing Canceled message, or Failed Test message. When viewing a Failed Test message, to view the error code press the Space bar .
To abort a test, press ESC .
To exit testing and restart the PC:
  1. Complete the current test or abort it.
  2. Eject and remove the diskette or disc.
  3. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete . The PC restarts.
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